You may have noticed that as winter draws in many of our species of birds of prey become more visible than during the summer months. Hen harriers, usually upland residents retreat down to marshy and farmland areas so can sometimes be spotted around the island as they move out of their usual territories. Merlins, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, also increase in numbers as birds from northern Europe head further south to avoid the harshest winters.

Other species including marsh harriers, short-eared owls and peregrines also get a boost in their numbers as residents are joined by winter migrants, or as they congregate in groups - in some occasions coming together in prime habitats like reed beds. Here they may circle and fly together before they settle down to roost overnight.

These spectacles are made all the more impressive when we remember how close many of our birds of prey came to extinction in the last century. Red kites, peregrines, white-tailed eagles and merlins were some of the nearest to vanishing from the UK due to persecution, habitat loss and pesticide use among other threats.

Widespread conservation and habitat or species restoration efforts saved them from extinction but this does not mean their numbers are safe. In the last four months alone there were nine suspicious disappearances of hen harriers in areas with grouse moors. And peregrines (recovering generally) have suffered catastrophic declines in some areas; with nests found destroyed and adult birds shot. If we want to keep these beautiful species we must all do our bit to ensure their persecution ends, fast.